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Utah oftentimes doesn't get the recognition it deserves when it comes to its talented residents. The Beehive State has been represented multiple times on TV shows like "American Idol," "Survivor" and even "Fear Factor," when Miss Utah 2003 starred on the wildly popular show.
In other instances, however, Utahns make appearances on shows where no talent is required — just a pretty face. Salt Lake City resident Brooks Forester, for example, made waves on the TV show "The Bachelorette" as both the heartbreaker and the heartthrob.
Talented or not, Utahns love to root for people they can call their own. Whether that be on "The Voice," "The Amazing Race" or "Wife Swap," these people connect Utahns to the show even more.
Here is a list of six Utah-related reality TV shows that had us glued to the screen.
"Shark Tank"
Utah is full of innovators and creative thinkers. Just drive by the Point of the Mountain, and you'll see company after company that has set up camp because of what Utahns have to offer.
As a sign of our ingenuity, son-and-mother duo Robert and Judy Edwards presented their new product, the Squatty Potty, to Mark Cuban and others in search of an investor. Maybe you've seen the humorous commercials for the Squatty Potty online, but the traction that the Squatty Potty is getting is no laughing matter. The ad for the product has over 18 million views.
"The Amazing Race"
This show demands a certain type of contestant, and for a father-son duo who were also both cancer survivors, they fit that bill with ease. Dave and Connor O’Leary had a story that inspired the nation, so the fact that they turned out to be fan favorites was not unreasonable. Unfortunately, Dave ruptured his Achilles tendon during the race and had to bow out, but the Utah family put up a good fight on one of the most difficult reality TV shows on television.
“Relative Race”
With "The Amazing Race" as inspiration, BYUtv will be premiering a show called "Relative Race," an Amazing Race-style show with a family history theme. Contestants of the show will race to be the first to find their relatives in a show that’s sure to be interesting to Utahns, young and old.
Tune in to BYUtv on Sundays to catch Relative Race, which has already gained excited fans since its premiere. You can catch up on the first three episodes at BYUtv.org.
"America's Got Talent"
Almost everybody has heard of Lindsey Stirling and know of her growing YouTube fame, but not very many people know that she actually first showcased her talents on "America's Got Talent" in 2010.
Unfortunately, she didn't go on to win the big prize. But after her successes in the years following, it doesn't seem like a quarterfinals exit slowed her down at all. Since then, she’s amassed more than 7.7 million subscribers on YouTube, and her videos have been seen over 1.3 billion times.
"The Bachelorette"
Before native Utahn Brooks Forester made his name known on the popular dating show, Jef Holm captured the hearts of Utah women everywhere. Not only was he seen as one of the best-looking contestants on the show, but he was also raised in the Mormon faith, which gave some Utah viewers even more of a reason to cheer him on.
Both Brooks and Jef were fan favorites and top picks of the bachelorettes on the show, so both men represented Utah well.
"The Great Food Truck Race"
Food trucks seem to be quite the hit these days. From tacos to pasta to overstuffed burritos, almost anything can be made in and sold from the side of a truck — and people seem to believe that food from trucks tastes much better.
Adam Terry, a native from Provo and a father of three, started selling waffles out of the back of his truck in response to tough economic times and a desire to sell waffles. On his quest to win $50,000 from Food Network’s "Great Food Truck Race," Terry finished as runner-up.